Part A：短对话（Short Conversation）
考试当天你将会碰到如下的答题提示：
Directions：In Part A， you will hear short conversations between two people. After each conversation， you will hear a question about the conversation. The conversations and questions will not be repeated. After hear a question， read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best answer. Then， on your answer sheet， find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
1.基本策略
你所听到的directions叫你先听问题再读选项然后决定选那个选项。对有些人来说这没有问题，但大部分人发现先读选项对做题很有用。这一技巧我们称之为逆向搜索法。下面是逆向搜索法的具体步骤：
①打开磁带听Direction，在这一时间里，考试中心不让你看选项。
②当Direction叫你turn the page时，快速看题目的四个选项。你可能只有1至2秒的时间，但尽量看那些在4个选项中重复出现的词，诸如名字，地点等等。这将在你听到这些词的时候对你有所帮助。你甚至可能通过这些反复出现的名词和动词猜出对话的主题。
③当对话开始的时候，立即停止看题，集中精神听题。
④当问题问完以后，再读一边四个选项，选出你的答案。如果你无法马上做出答案，尽量排除一些选项，然后从剩下的选项中选一个。
⑤快速仔细的涂答题纸。马上回到第2步，看下一题的四个选项。
逆向搜索法的好处：
①你能得到关于对话内容的线索。
②你能运用你的阅读能力和归纳能力来加强你的听力能力。
③当你猜到一道题目的主题的时候，你会少一些紧张和焦虑，这将帮助你关注你所需要听到的信息作者: 幽幽草 时间: 2007-5-24 17:26 标题: 托福听力PartA：短对话(二）
W：If George misses one more meeting we are going to have to find one new committee secretary.M：We'd better give him an ultimatum.
Q： What does the man suggest they do？
（A） Remove George from the committee immediately.
（B） Warn George that his attendance problem is serious.
（C） Offer to help George during the meeting.（D） Telephone George to see if he's coming to the meeting.？
答案是B.
如果你认识并听懂ultimatum是“最后通牒”的意思的话，你轻而易举就能选出它的同义转换warn sb about sth（警告）。而第一句同样说明了George是个不太称职的secretary，但却用are going to将来时说明并非要remove George form the committee immediately作者: 幽幽草 时间: 2007-5-24 17:26 标题: 托福听力PartA：短对话(三）
（2）习语和短语
习语和短语，指的是惯用词组或者常见的口语化表达。它在托福听力中经常出现，而且比较难。原因仍然是我们平时很少练习听力。而且口语化的表达也使一贯重视语法的中国式英语教育暴露出明显的缺点。但是，你却可以通过我们后面给你总结的托福听力词句精选快速地掌握这些常见的口语化表达和惯用词组。经常出现的词组比如对话中说： Kathy's effort really paid off.那么选项中出现的Kathy's hard work had a positive result就是正确答案。这里考的是paid off这个短语的含义。
1999年1月听力题
M： Did you see the diamond ring Bill gave to Linda？
W：I sure did. It must have cost him an arm and a leg.
Q： What does the woman imply about the ring.
（A） Linda didn't like it.
（B） Bill lost it.
（C） It was very expensive.
（D） It was very small.？
答案是C.同cost a fortune的意思一样，cost one an arm and a leg都是形容很贵。1999年1月听力题
M：Did you watch that comedy special on TV last night？ I don't think I ever laughed so hard.
W：Don't even talk to me about it. The only night I really wanted to watch something and we had a power failure in my building.
Q： What does the woman mean？
（A） She's upset that she missed the television program.
（B） She doesn't think the television program was funny.
（C） She doesn't like talking about television programs.
（D） She watched the television program at a friend's house.？答案是A.这里，重要的是认识并听懂power failure是停电的意思
